Electric suction cleaner



June 24, 1930. J, u 1,766,929

ELECTRIC SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 15. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q/dmesM/Vaul dttoz mq June 24,1930. 'J. M. 'NAUL 1,766,929

ELECTRIC SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W147644=1? James M/Vaul Patented June 24, 1930 V UNITED STATES PATENT ZOFFICEJAME$ M. NAUL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH,

JERSEY NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW ELECTRIC SUCTION CLEANERApplication filedAugust 15,

This invention relates to vacuum or suction cleaners of the portableelectr1c motordrlven type having a motor, a fan, a cleaning nozzle and adirt-receptacle, which are being desirable to run the vacuum cleaner ata speed such that the particular rug being cleaned will not stick to thecleaner nozzle and thus be dragged over the floor.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the speed-control ofa suction cleaner without encumberi-ng the outfit with unsightlyenlargements, protuberancesor heatgenerating devices.

Still further, the invention has for an object to provide aspeed-controlled suction cleaner which is easy to operate and in whichthe starting and stopping means and the speed-controlling means areclosely associated for convenience of operation, but are separated insuch a way as to be unlikely to confuse the operator.

To the attainment of the ends in view,

the motor of the device, which is preferably of the series commutatortype, is provided with a tapped field-winding, the taps of which areextended into the hollow handle of the device, together withthe mainmotor leads One leg of the current-supply cord is connected through asingle-pole singlethrow on-and-off switch to'one of the motor leads. Themotor-field taps are connected to the points of a selector-switch, themovable contact element of which is connected to the other leg of thecurrent-supply cord. The on-and-off switch is preferably mounted upon aplate provided with an inlet aperture and spring guard for "thecurrent-supply cord; such plate being mounted at the under side of thevacuum cleaner handle near the upper or free end of the latter; thepivoted 1929. Serial No. 386,165.

handle of the switch projecting outwardly from thehandle alongside thecurrent-supply cord and hence readily associated with the cord in themind of the operator as the switch-handle for turning the electriccurrent on or off. The selector-switch is preferably mounted on aseparate plate secured to the vacuum cleaner handle near the free end ofthe latter but on the upper or opposite side of the handle from theon-andofi' swltch. The selector or speed-control switch is thus readilyaccessible for convenient operation, yet is so separated from theonand-off switch as to be naturally readily distinguished from thelatter.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a suctioncleaner embodythe wiring of the device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalvertical section through the handle of the device. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section through the lower end of the handle, showing theplug-connection between the motor leads and the conductors within thehandle. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the female member of theconnector. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the male member of theconnector. Fig. 7 is anencl view of the connector-member shown in Fig. 5Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the selectorswitchshown at the leftin'Fig. 3, and Fig. 9 is a top-plan view of the on-and-off switch shownat the right in Fig. 3.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, 1represents'the fan-casing or body of a suction cleaner having a cleaningnozzle 2 and carrying an electric motor 3 direct connected as usual to afan 3' within the casing 1. The usual dirt-receptacle 4 hangs from thehook 5 on the switchplate 6 and is connected to the air-discharge tube 7leading from the casing 1.

The motor is preferably of the series commutator type having an armatureM and field f connected in series with the main motor leads 8, 9. Thefield winding f is tapped between its ends and the tap 10 is includedwith the leads 8 and 9 in the cable 11 which extends from the motor 3 toa male member 12 of a threepin plug-connector ing the invention. Fig. 2is a diagram of which is received by the mating member 13 fitted intoand closing the lower end of the hollow tube 14 constituting the handleof the suction cleaner.

Screwed to the under side of the-handle 14 over the slot 15 near theupper end of the handle is the switch plate 6 previously referred to.This plate is formed with an inlet aperture 16 for the current-supplycord 17 which is protected by the usual spring wire guard 18. Screwed tothe switch-plate 6 and disposed within the slot 15 in the handle-tube 14is a singleole single-throw toggle-switch 19 of stan ard construction.The switch shown has a pivoted operating handle 20 and a movablebridging contact member 21 which in its on position connects thestationary contact 22 to a similar contact 22 at the other side of theswitch, thereby connecting one leg of the current-supply cord to themain motor-lead 8. Secured over the slot 23 in the upper side of thehandle is a switch-plate 2-1 on which is mounted a standard sin lepoledouble-throw toggle-switch 25 serving as a selector-switch to connectthe other leg of the current-supply cord 17 to one or the other of thefield connections 9, 10.

The switch 25 comprises a. pivoted switchlever 26, a bridging contactmember 27, a pair of contacts 28, 29 on one side of the switch, and apair of similar contacts 28', 29' similarly disposed at the other sideof the switch, all supported in insulate-l relation. One current-supplywire 17 is con.-

nected to the two under side contacts 28,

29. The field terminal lead 9 is connected to the contact 28, and thefield-tap 10 is connected to the contact 29. lVith the switch-lever inthe up position shown in Fig. 3,'the current supply wire 17 is connectedto the field-tap 10 and the motor will run at its higher speed. When theswitch-lever 26 is thrown down to the position shown in Fig. 1, themotor will run at its lower speed. Manipulation of the switch-lever 20will start and stop the motorregardless of the setting of thespeed-control switch-lever 26.

Both switch-levers 20, 26 are simultaneously accessible to one of theoperators hands and, being on different sides ofthe handle 14, areeasily distinguished from one another. The operatorlearns naturally thatthe on-and-oif switch is the one closely associated with thecurrent-supply cord.

The motor is preferably so wound and its brushes so set as to haveuniversal characteristics, that is, to run at substantially the samespeeds on either direct or alternating current of a given voltage.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

1. In a suction cleaner, the combination with a fan-casing and nozzle,of an elecand a plurality of speed-control leads, a 1101- low tubularhandle connected to said fancasing and through which said leads extend,a-plurality of separate switches disposed within said handle and havingoperating means exteriorly disposed at different'sides of said handle,and a current-supply cord leading into said handle, one of said switchesbeing an on-and-ofi' switch connected in one of the current-supply legsand the other switch being a selector-switch connected to thespeed-control leads from the motor.

. 3. A suction cleaner having an electric. motor with a plurality ofspeed-control leads, a hollow handle for propelling said cleaner, saidhandle having slots in its upper and under sides adjacent its free end,a switch-plate covering the under slot in said handle and formed with aninlet aperture for the current-supply cord, an on-andofi' switchconnected to said motor and mounted on said switch-plate and disposed insaid under slot, a second switch-plate covering the upper slot in said,handle, and a selectorswitch mounted on said second switch-plate anddisposed in said upper slot and connected to the motor speed-controlleads.

4. A suction cleaner having a casing including a cleaner nozzle, anelectric motor mounted on said casing and having a tapped field winding,a handle for propelling the cleaner casing and nozzle, :1 switch mountedon said handle and connected to said tapped field winding to vary theef-' JAMES M. NAUL.

signed my

